What’s the difference between Friday and Sunday? This week, quite a lot. On this Easter weekend, we observe Good Friday, but we celebrate Resurrection Sunday. The last week of Jesus’ life was filled with highs and lows. He rode into Jerusalem on the foal of a donkey. He was celebrated by the people of Jerusalem as a hopeful Messiah. Throngs of pilgrims from the known world had come for Passover, and Messianic hope was high. Throughout the rest of the week, a tremendous satanic battle ensued. Daily in the temple, the enemies of Jesus opposed Him. They sparred with Him over theology and authority. They plotted to kill Him, knowing that He was innocent of any wrongdoing. The plan to kill an innocent rabbi was nothing but evil.

Throughout the week, Jesus acquitted Himself well. He was His Father’s Son, and it was evident that He was the Son of God by all that transpired. He taught the people in a winsome and confident manner. The people were fascinated, entranced by its sheer power and depth. No one had ever taught like this.

But it wouldn’t last. By the end of the week, Jesus would be betrayed by one of His own disciples. The religious leaders would conspire with the political leaders to have Jesus executed. After a kangaroo court, Jesus would be savagely scourged, beaten, and nailed to a cross along with two thieves. He would suffer horribly on that God-ordained cross for our sins. He would not defend Himself or save Himself. He would stay there until it was finished, that is, the complete satisfaction of the wrath of God. With the words, “It is finished,” Jesus announced that the debt of sin was paid for all who would believe.

Still, there was despair for His followers, for they did not understand His words. For them, it was all just defeat and death—the darkest hours of the darkest day, not only of their lives but of all history.

But Sunday! On Sunday, the sun rose, and so did the Son of God. With dawn came the dawn of complete redemption for the coming age. Our atonement was sealed, not in a tomb, but by an empty tomb, for Jesus had risen from the dead. His resurrection meant victory over the despair of sin, death, and hell itself. He burst forth from the grave in the full guarantee of our redemption for all time. This we celebrate.

The difference between Friday and Sunday is the difference between death and life. We observe Good Friday, but we celebrate Resurrection Sunday. Today, observe and contemplate the staggering pain of Christ’s suffering for you, for your sin. Sunday, come prepared to break forth with joyful worship of the One who rose victorious over the grave.

There in the ground His body lay,
Light of the world by darkness slain;
Then bursting forth in glorious day,
Up from the grave He rose again!
And as He stands in victory,
Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me;
For I am His and He is mine—
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.